- of joanae and names

[Ron Gatrelle]

I agree with all the rational and factual points presented by Norbert
below. The problem I see is that many many new people have come into this
butterfly thing in just the last 10 years. A great many of them seem
unaware of the ICZN or that there are various scientific oppinions.
They think the -opinions- of those who curectly have the microphone to the
public address system are speaking written-in-stone taxonomic facts. (Some
do not appear to even get this *deep* as they only know common names.)
 
One of the things that prompted these posts on Papilio joanae is that I
have personally encountered several people who have NEVER even heard of it!
One of them is a new collector, but of sufficient time and interests, to
have heard of this. However, when he heard me use the name he went to his
"latest" books and found NOTHING on it. New collectors and watchers don't
go out and buy Holland, Klots, Howe, or even Scott.
 
In joanae we are not talking about a drab moth or skipper, we are talking
about a glamorous swallowtail - the leps at the top of the visual pecking
order.  It is almost beyond belief that a U.S. swallowtail (even as a
subspecies) would not be known to lepidopterists. In joanae we are not only
have a swallowtail, but one that can lay a legitimate claim to the most
unusual and rare swallowtail SPECIES in all of North America!  AND PEOPLE
HAVE NOT EVEN HEARD OF IT?!
 
This butterfly looks so much like the common Black Swallowtail that many
experienced watchers and collectors would have a hard time telling the two
apart while nectaring and could not tell the difference while in flight.
How far east this butterfly ranges from Missouri is unknown - its hosts
extend all the way to the east coast.
 
In closing, all that Norbert says below is fine. In joanae we are not
dealing with a taxon that some think should be classed as this and another
group who thinks it should be as that. It is a taxon that is flat out
unknown to a great many people. People who have no opportunity to "choose
sides" because they are not even hearing the name much less being given any
information on it.
 
Ron
 
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX" <Norbert.Kondla at gems3.gov.bc.ca>
To: "'lepsl'" <leps-l at lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2001 11:26 AM
Subject: - of joanae and names
 
 
> The joanae posting reminded me of an issue which I have given some
thought
> to over the years. The issue is perhaps best illustrated by a view from
> another butterfly researcher. Said person who asked to remain
unidentified
> posed a question about what gave certain authors the authority to make
> [name] changes and ignore published evidence.  Many other people with
> butterfly interests have expressed some frustration and confusion about
what
> the "correct" names of some butterflies are. Here is my view on this
matter:
> - name changes are not the same as publishing a taxonomic opinion or
> interpretation
> - there is an international code of conventions (="rules") which provides
an
> evolving set of criteria for  making decisions about the consistent use
of
> names
> - publishing a paper or book or putting some information on a web site
that
> uses the name combination Papilio machaon joanae, for example, is not a
name
> change. It is a stated opinion or interpretation of taxonomic rank for
the
> validly published and available name joanae. Similarly, ignoring the
taxon
> joanae is nothing more than an opinion or interpretation. Such an action
> does not make the name invalid nor unavailable under the rules and does
not
> obligate anyone else to agree with said opinion or interpretation
> - it is my opinion that people have the right to share and publish their
> opinions and interpretations related to both names and taxonomic rank
> - other people have the right to share and publish differing opinions and
> interpretations
> So do not worry about all the alleged name changes over the years.  Most
of
> them are not name changes at all.  Until such time as sufficient
convincing
> evidence or rationale to convince everyone about the "correctness" of a
> particular name; different authors will continue to quite properly use
their
> preferred name.  It would however be helpful in communicating with
> non-specialists if authors also provided at least some of the other
> taxonomic ranks used for the same organism and other names used in recent
> literature.  One thing that has created a lot of 'confusion' , at least
in
> North American butterfly names, is our history of various authors who
have
> presented their opinions and interpretations without explanation, without
> supporting data and without any kind of rationale that would allow others
to
> understand why they have presented the view that they do. This continent
has
> its share of taxonomic opinions that are nothing more than taxonomy by
rank
> speculation, taxonomy by specious assumption and taxonomy by lack of
data.
> - in Canada there is no law that says I have to use a particular
butterfly
> name or taxonomic rank just because someone else "said so".
> Finally, we do not know everything about the biological relationships
> between butterflies. curious people will continue to investigate past and
> present taxonomic opinions and continue to present new information and
> ideas. It should come as no surprise that more research will yield still
> more proposed "changes" in the future.  People who want to preserve the
> status quo are living in a fools paradise. The world does not work that
way;
> not the 'natural' world and not the 'human' world. And really finally
this
> time; do not worry about people who throw 'hissy fits' when confronted by
an
> opinion different than theirs. They have the right to be intolerant of
other
> opinions if they wish.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Norbert Kondla  P.Biol., RPBio.
> Forest Ecosystem Specialist, Ministry of Environment
> 845 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, British Columbia V1N 1H3
> Phone 250-365-8610
> Mailto:Norbert.Kondla at gems3.gov.bc.ca
> http://www.env.gov.bc.ca
>
>
>
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